PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 27, 2006
(Toronto, ON) - The Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO) has created two unique fellowships to encourage discussion and collaboration between academics and practitioners in public interest organizations. The first-of-their-kind fellowships - the Community Leadership in Justice Fellowships - are designed to create connections between leaders in the public interest and academics at Ontario universities, colleges and law schools. Over time it is expected that they will have a transformative effect on the way legal education and legal research contributes to law reform, legal advocacy and the justice system in Ontario.
The merit-based fellowships, to be in place this September, will allow two community leaders, who are currently active in public interest organizations focused on legal areas, to spend an academic term (approximately six months) in residence at an Ontario university, college or law school. Work undertaken by the recipients will include research, teaching or co-teaching courses, as well as student mentorship, activism and leadership through discussion groups, advocacy, public lectures, and the development of networks between researchers and the public interest community.
"The Law Foundation is deeply committed to enhancing collaboration between Ontario universities, colleges, law schools and leaders in a variety of public interest organizations which interact with our justice system," says Mary Brown, Executive Director of the Law Foundation of Ontario. "These fellowships will give people working at the grass roots level in public interest organizations an opportunity to reflect upon their work in a meaningful way, share their insights with academics and students, create new synergies, and ultimately return to their home organization rejuvenated and with an important new understanding of the issues facing the broader public interest community."
The Law Foundation fellowships will cover the fellowship-holder's salary over a six month period, up to a maximum of $50,000 for each award. The host organization will also receive a grant of up to $15,000 to cover costs associated with equipment and overhead.
"We are very excited by these innovative fellowships which promise to strengthen the bond between academic institutions in Ontario and public interest organizations, and provide an enriched faculty and student academic environment," says Lorne Sossin, LFO Board Member and Associate Dean, U of T Faculty of Law. "Law schools, universities and colleges stand to benefit immeasurably through exposure to distinct new perspectives on public interest work provided by the fellowship recipient, as well as an enhanced understanding of issues facing public interest organizations and the broader community."
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For more information:
Mary Brown, Executive Director, The law Foundation of Ontario 416 598-1550
See the announcement at www.lawfoundation-on.org
Media Contact:
Jane Kidner, Assistant Dean, External Relations, University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 416-978-6702 or j.kidner@utoronto.ca
